Event entertainment in Dubai usually costs AED 3,500 to AED 45,000 for a corporate event, depending on the acts. A complete package of a live band, a professional MC and one specialty act for a 300 to 500 guest gala usually runs AED 25,000 to AED 45,000. A private party package of 3 to 5 acts with sound and an MC usually costs AED 6,000 to AED 20,000 or more. AV, staging and lighting are quoted separately. For an exact figure, send your date, venue and guest count and you get an itemised quote.
Usual package ranges
| Event | Usual range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate event entertainment | AED 3,500 to AED 45,000 | From one act to a full programme |
| Gala for 300 to 500 guests: band, MC and one specialty act | AED 25,000 to AED 45,000 | AV, staging and lighting extra |
| Private party: 3 to 5 acts with sound and an MC | AED 6,000 to AED 20,000 or more | Depends on the acts and equipment |
These are usual ranges, not quotes. The exact figure depends on your date, venue and programme.
What a wedding programme is built from
Weddings are priced moment by moment. Typical lines in a Dubai wedding programme:
- 4 piece band for two or three sets: AED 12,000 to AED 22,000
- Arabic band with oud, qanun, percussion and singer: AED 15,000 to AED 35,000
- string trio or quartet for the ceremony: AED 6,000 to AED 14,000
- zaffa drummers for the entrance: AED 3,000 to AED 7,000
- DJ for the after party: AED 4,000 to AED 12,000
Friday and Saturday dates from November to February sit at the top of each range. See wedding entertainment for how the day fits together.
What moves the price
- The acts and how many. One act for the room costs far less than a full programme with a stage moment.
- Guest count and length. A bigger room needs more sound, a longer evening needs more sets.
- Equipment. Whether sound, lighting and staging come with the acts or the venue already has a rig.
- Season and day. October to April and Thursday or Friday evenings cost more than midweek summer dates.
- Peak dates. Eid, National Day and December parties sit near the top of the range.
- Extras. Travel outside Dubai, a second performance for a separate hall, and permits.
What is not included
AV, staging, the lighting rig and tenting are quoted separately. For parties at villas, a sound system, extra lighting, a generator for a desert or beach location and any permit fees are separate lines too. Ask for them to be itemised.
What a good quote should say
- the specific performers proposed, with video or audio samples, not just a category
- the running order and the set times
- what is included: sound, staging, permits and travel for the crew
- the setup each act needs: space, power and load in time
If a supplier cannot name the act before you pay a deposit, you will only find out who turns up on the day.
The most expensive mistake
Booking the venue and catering first and fitting the entertainment into whatever is left. By then there is often no room for a proper MC or a good band. Set the entertainment budget next to the venue budget and confirm the acts six to eight weeks ahead.
Ask for a written price
Send the date, the venue, the guest count and the type of event on WhatsApp or through the quote form. The planning guide helps you set the brief, and corporate event entertainment shows what each format needs.
